I Fall Every Time I Meet an Alpha [Transmigrated into a Book] - Chapter 8
“Thank you so much for bringing her home,” Zhong Yuanyuan said with genuine gratitude to Meng Yuqing. She looked up at the empty street and added with concern, “It’s really late. Why don’t you stay the night at our place? Just call your family and let them know. It’s not safe for a girl to go home alone at this hour.”
Meng Yuqing had been planning to say no, but when she looked at Zhong Xiaoxiao, she changed her mind. Staying over could help her get to know her better.
“Would it be too much trouble?” she asked politely.
“Not at all,” Zhong Yuanyuan said with a warm smile. “You’re Xiaoxiao’s classmate, right? She’s never brought a friend home before. I’m happy to have you.”
“Alright, I’ll call my family then.”
“Yes, please do. Don’t let them worry.”
Meng Yuqing took out her phone and called her brother.
“Brother, it’s really late. I’m not going back tonight. I’ll stay at Xiaoxiao’s place.”
“Alright,” Meng Yuzhou answered simply, without any comment.
After the call, Meng Yuqing helped Zhong Yuanyuan bring Zhong Xiaoxiao into the house.
The apartment was a three-bedroom unit. Zhong Yuanyuan and her daughter each had their own room, and the third room was used for storage. It had been years since they had any guests, and it was already very late. Zhong Yuanyuan had no energy to clean anything. She turned to Meng Yuqing and said, “If you don’t mind, you can share a bed with Xiaoxiao. We don’t have a spare.”
“That’s completely fine, Auntie,” Meng Yuqing replied without hesitation.
Zhong Xiaoxiao was placed in bed and immediately fell into a deep sleep. Meng Yuqing lay next to her, stared at her for a while, then eventually closed her eyes as well.
The night passed, and sunlight poured through the window.
Zhong Xiaoxiao frowned as she slowly opened her eyes. She stared at the ceiling, feeling slightly dizzy.
“You’re awake?” a voice came from beside her. Startled, she turned her head and saw Meng Yuqing lying next to her, propping her head up with one hand and smiling.
Still half-asleep and groggy from the hangover, Zhong Xiaoxiao blinked in confusion. Her first reaction was disbelief. Why was Meng Yuqing in her house? There was no reason the vicious female supporting character would be here. She closed her eyes tightly, then opened them again. But Meng Yuqing was still there, smiling at her.
What? Seriously?
What is going on?
Zhong Xiaoxiao suddenly sat up in bed, looking alarmed. “Why are you in my house?”
Meng Yuqing also sat up and replied calmly, “Your mom invited me to stay. What, do you have a problem with that?”
“No,” Zhong Xiaoxiao answered quickly. As soon as she remembered her mom had made the invitation, she also remembered what happened the night before. She had drunk so much that she passed out. That was dangerous enough, but what worried her most now was facing her mother.
Her thoughts circled back to Meng Yuqing. Even though she was the so-called villain in the story, she wouldn’t try anything while staying in someone else’s home. In fact, Zhong Xiaoxiao figured she could be useful in deflecting her mother’s anger.
Clearing her throat awkwardly, she said, “Well, since we’re both up, do you want to have breakfast together?”
Meng Yuqing, already fully aware of everything Zhong Xiaoxiao was thinking thanks to the system, smiled and replied, “Sure.”
As expected, Zhong Yuanyuan held back a little in front of her daughter’s classmate. While they ate breakfast, she scolded Zhong Xiaoxiao just once.
“You’re still so young, and already you’re drinking? What kind of person are you trying to become?”
“I won’t drink again, Mom. I promise,” Zhong Xiaoxiao said quickly. In her heart, she added, at least not until I turn eighteen.
Meng Yuqing found her thoughts amusing. She spoke up for her, “Auntie, it was our fault. The fruit beer tasted too good. Xiaoxiao had a couple of extra glasses and got drunk. I’m really sorry.”
“This has nothing to do with you,” Zhong Yuanyuan replied. She liked how polite and well-mannered Meng Yuqing was. She had no intention of blaming her. “It’s all Xiaoxiao’s fault for not knowing her limits. This isn’t anyone else’s responsibility.”
She turned to her daughter again. “Now you understand your tolerance. No more drinking from now on.”
“I understand, Mom,” Zhong Xiaoxiao said carefully.
It was Saturday. Zhong Yuanyuan had to work overtime, so she left right after breakfast.
Left alone with the so-called villainess, Zhong Xiaoxiao started to feel uneasy.
“You’re going home now, right?” she asked.
“What, are you trying to get rid of me?” Meng Yuqing leaned in and smiled. “You’re not exactly being subtle about your dislike.”
Zhong Xiaoxiao rolled her eyes. Has this girl forgotten how she used to bully me? People like her never reflect on their actions. It’s always someone else’s fault.
Meng Yuqing said nothing, but she heard every word in Zhong Xiaoxiao’s mind.
Zhong Xiaoxiao didn’t want her staying any longer. She hadn’t showered last night, and now she just wanted to take a long bath and enjoy a proper nap. Why should she waste time dealing with someone like Meng Yuqing? Relaxing alone sounded much better.
Sensing she was not welcome, Meng Yuqing stood up and said, “Alright then. I won’t bother you. See you on Monday, Miss Xiaoxiao.”
The way she said “Miss Xiaoxiao” sounded strange, as if she were mocking her.
Zhong Xiaoxiao found it a little annoying but didn’t say anything. When Meng Yuqing finally left, she let out a long breath of relief.
After leaving Zhong Xiaoxiao’s house, Meng Yuqing turned back and stared at the closed door. She stood there quietly, deep in thought, then finally made her way downstairs and headed home.
When she arrived, Meng Yuzhou looked at her and asked, “How is Xiaoxiao?”
“She’s doing just fine. Energetic as always,” Meng Yuqing replied with a smile. Then she added, “If you like her so much, why don’t you just be with her?”
“I don’t like her,” Meng Yuzhou denied again, his tone calm but firm.
Meng Yuqing looked at him closely. His face was expressionless, but the dark circles under his eyes made him look tired, as if he had not slept well. She continued, “You already have a girlfriend. What are you planning to do? Become the kind of guy who dates two girls at once?”
Meng Yuzhou said nothing.
Meng Yuqing tilted her head and asked, “If Zhong Xiaoxiao likes you too, what will you do then? If you keep pushing her away, she might end up with someone else. Don’t forget, she’s sweet and adorable. Plenty of people would like her.”
Seeing him remain silent, Meng Yuqing laughed softly and said, “Isn’t it hard being in a relationship with someone you don’t even like? Pretending every day, going along with something that doesn’t feel right?”
Of course it was hard. Meng Yuzhou felt the weight of it deep down. But in his mind, this was worth it. At least now, no one was making trouble for Zhong Xiaoxiao anymore. She could finally have some peace. That should count for something.
Meng Yuqing caught his thoughts clearly, and at that moment, something clicked in her mind. The reason she had become the so-called vicious female supporting character was all because her brother liked Zhong Xiaoxiao. Her own possessiveness had turned into resentment toward the girl he had feelings for.
Now that he had “stopped liking” Zhong Xiaoxiao, the role of the villainess no longer held the same weight.
Meng Yuqing quietly asked the system, “System, I haven’t done anything bad in a while. My hands are getting a little itchy. Do I really need a reason to mess with the heroine?”
System 666 replied, “If you bully someone without reason, you’ll mess up the logic of this world. So yes, you still need to bring the plot back on track.”